The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-09
THE HOLY LAND.
INTERESTING NOTES OF A TRIP
To PALESTINE.
How Some of the Biblical Places
Look O.Day-Jerusalem, Its
Buildings and Popula-
tiOn-Bethlehem.

The Turf, Field anil Farm has an in
teresting synopsis of lecture on the Holy
Land, delivered by Professor Bickmore
in New York. We quote:
The view of Joppa is lovely as one
enters the bay; but the beauty vanishes
on nearer approach, for the streets are
oren sewers. 1t was once the chief port
of Judea, but it has entirely fallen from
its ancient grandeur 1t was here that
Peter lived, and the house is shown where
he saw the sheet let down from Heaven.
There arc but two good roads in the
far east; the French have built one from
Damascus to Beyreuth, and there is
another, carriage road, from Joppa to
Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Wheat is the staple article, and is cult
vatcd in the valleys and also down in
Egypt, on the banks of the Nile.
Jerusalem is walled and situated on
high ground, having s:ccp ascents on the
north, cast and west sides, presenting Il
grand asscmblage of Gomes, palaces,
towers and monastcrics, with here and
there a minaret-a high slender turret
rising up against the clear, blue sky like
sentinels, and from the balconies of which
the faithful are called to prayer.
Water is scarce in this part of the
world, so the rain is gathered into pools
or wells, and carrying water in jars is one
of the principal occupations of the
women. South of this city is the Pool
OF Salome, and is used by the Arabs for
washing and bathing. 1t existed before
the time of the Jews.
Haram is the sacred area of Jerusalem.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the
principal object of interest to pilgrims
and is grand structure. At the end of
it is q superb rotuDda and cupola, the
light coming in through the top.
Directly under the opening, and placed
in a small chapel, is the Holy Sepulchre.
Three holes in the roof of the chapel let
out the smoke of many lamps, which are
kept constantly burning.
Near by is the Mosque of Omar, the
grandcst pile of architecture in the whole
Turkish Empire. 1t occupies the ste of
the Temple of Solomon. Here Mahomet
came and prayed, here it was, so his fol-
lowers believe, he was taken through the
rock, which is in the dome, straight up
to Heaven. Omar l. was Caliph of the
Saracens and father-in-law of Mahomet.
He took possession of Jerusalem in 64S
A. D., and was assassinated five years
later by Persian slave. 1t is only since
the Crimean War that the Turks have al
lowed the outside world to enter their
mosques.
There is annually great number of
pilgrims to Jerusalem. The past year
they numbered 10000. 6,00O of whom
were scrfs from Russia and Poland. It
is the great wish of scrf's heart that he
may, at least once in his life, perform this
pilgrimage. The Russian, or Greek
Church, is purchasing large tracts of land
outside the city. The Jews, assisted by
the Rothschilds, are establishing large
colony on the outskirts, and arc building
on and near Mount Olivct. South of the
city is the tomb of David, and close by
is large school for Jews, also given by
Rothschild.
The brook Kedron flows along the val
ley on the eastern side of Jerusalem, at
the foot of Mount Olivet, from the top OF
which the finest view of this historical
city is obtained.
At Bethany we arc shown the tomb
where Lazarus was laid, and also the
house of Mary and Martha.
As we go south toward Bethlehem, we
see the place where Rachel died and
was buried. The land surrounding our
Lords birthplace is rich and fertile.
Over the spot where Christ was born is
erected monastery, or, as it is cal led,
"The Church of the Nativity" another
special shrine for pilgrims.
Bethlehem is noted for the beauty OF
its women. All Mohammedans buy their
wives, but u wife from this place COM
mands twice the price of any other
woman.
"Jacob's Wcll' is not at all like what
we imagined walled around as we have
seen it in biblical pictures. 1t is now
mercy q hole or pool, though once
church was built over it, and scattered
remains of the ruins are still visible.
In this part of Palestine, yearly, to the
present day, come descendants of the
tribe of Levi. They are the finest
looking set of people in all this country.
Tall, erect and fair, they follow strictly
the law of Moses, and believe in the
teachings of Aaron.
Each city has its colony Of lepers, and
Eastern travellers arc constantly besieScd
by parties of these unfortunate creatures,
showing their diseased hands where the
fingers have dropped of, and eyes blinded
by this terrible, loathsome and incurabIe
malady.
Going Northeast toward Damascus.
we passed over the Sea of Gali.ee and
crossed to the city of Nazareth, in the
centre of which is "Mary's Well" Soon
Mount Hermon is reached, which is be-
lievcd to be the Mount of Transtigura-
tion. 1t is 5000 feet high, and it took
our friends seven hours to reach the sum-
NIT. Around it a wall was built in ages
past, and there still remains ruins of
number of ancient Roman temples where
the sun god was worshiped.
Damascus, from distance, is most
picture. Like an oasis in
the midst of barren desert, it rises a
beautiful white city, filled with mosques
and chapels. Here it has stood since
the time of Abraham, ana is the most
fertile spot of all Syria. 1t is one of the
sacred cities of the Mohammedans, and,
strange to say, is the only city of the East
which has not d windled from its former
greatness. Our friends visited the house